Pneumatic separating device



1m 20, 1933. F, c ENK 1,914,862

PNEUMATIC SEPARATING DEVICE Filed July 29, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l vZ gwuewto'a [CM/emf 33 J MZ/Z wm June 20, 1933. F. c. MENK PNEUMATIC SEPARATING DEVICE Filed July 29, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 20, 1933 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE FERDENAND C. MENK, 0F HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA PNEUMATIC SEPARATING DEVICE Application filed. July 29, 1931.

This invention relates to a pneumatic sorting device for separating materials of different specific gravity and more particularly to that type of device especially adapted to separate smaller sizes of coal from slate.

It is an object of my invention to provide a highly rugged structure for the separation of materials which is continuous in operation and adapted for large capacity outputs. My device is a gravity operated machine, embodying no movable parts with the result that the only wear involved is that upon fixed plates. The elements of my device are further designed so that no clogging of material can take place therein, and furthermore that inspection of the same may be conveniently made. -t is a further object of my invention to render the opera tion of my device automatic, that is, the same is operative only when the material to be operated upon is presented therein. The efficiency of my device is furthermore increased by the successive treatment of the material to be separated in the single cycle of its operation.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an economical structure. Several elements of my device consist of a duplication of parts which renders necessary replacements a simple matter. My device is furthermore designed to be dustless, which eliminates the necessity for the provision of expensive dust collecting systems.

It is a further object of my invention to supply equalized forced air draft upon the material to be treated in order to effect a uniform operation. My device is furthermore capable of simple and effective regulation to adapt the same to varying operaating conditions.

Further objects and purposes will appear from the following detailed description of the embodiment of my invention disclosed herein, taken in conjunction with the ac companying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of myseparating device,

Fig. 2 is a top elevation of. one of my unit rings, partly in section, and

Serial No. 553,878.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1 is illustrated the bin 1 which defines the separating chamber. Although this bin may be of any desired shape, one of circular shape conserves space and the embodiment herein illustrated is of that type. The compressed air chamber 2 is disposed preferably concentrically within the bin 1. A blower 3 is adapted to supply compressed air to the chamber 2, which, after its passage into bin 1 through means hereinafter described, passes through conduit 18 back to the blower 3. v

The material is adapted to be passed from a supply bin 4 into my separating device through a channel 5. The material imposed upon the conically shaped feed gate 6 causes the latter to be lowered against the counter- Weighted system 789. The result is that a thin stream of material is caused to drop adJacent the exterior of the compressed air chamber 2.

Chamber 2 consists of a series of superposed unit rings 10. Each ring has a plurality of apertures 13 disposed around its periphery which are furthermore covered with a protective layer such as wire gauze. A ring 11 having a plurality of large air supply apertures 23 cooperates with each ring 10. This construction of superposed unit rings is supported upon a main distribution ring 21 into which is led the conduit 19, leading from blower 3. The assembly is held unitary upon the interior by a springpressed channel sheet 241-, which is expanded by springs 25, acting upon the interior of the system of unit rings. A series of channels 22 are pressed in this channel sheet through which is forced the compressed air leading from the main distribution ring into the various superposed unit ring systems. The rings 11 may be conveniently adjusted so that the openings 23 register with the channels 22 in a varying degree thereby controlling independently the amount of air conveyed into each unit ring. Adjacent each unit ring is disposed a vertically inclined partition 14 which is suitably supported by straps or equivalent means 15 which in turn are suitably supported from bafile plates 16 fixed to the bin structure.

By the construction above described the thin stream of material falling past the first unit ring will be exposed to the force of the air passing from that unit ring. The material of lower specific gravity will be blown beyond the partition rings. However the heavier material will not be affected as much by the air, and will fall upon the inner side of the partitions and be guided in a separate channel. In View of the fact that an efiicient separation is diflicult to effect with the operation of a single unit, the embodiment is illustrated as showing a plurality of them, in which case the heavier material is guided for action by the air emanating from the successive series of air ports in the next lower ring. Another separation of the material takes place at this point and the heavier material, is again guided as in the previous case. The result of this operation is that the lighter materials carried beyond the partitions fall to the bottom of the bin which communicated with a suitable chute 31. The heavier material is passed through its successive stages and finally into a vertical funnel shaped structure 27 which leads into a chute 28. The air is returned, after its upward passage through the bin, through several bailie elementsinto the blower 3 for repeated use. My complete system is sealed. Gate 32 operated by weight 33 at the end of chute 31, renders automatic the discharge of the separated lighter material. Likewise, the gate 29 operated by weight effects the seal at the end of the chute carrying the heavier material. Conduits 9 and 28 are sealed at their point of entrance to the bin whereby no dust may be communicated to the exterior of the device.

My partitions 14 are inclined sufficiently in a vertical direction so that a clogging of the materials is impossible. The adjustment of my unit rings allows a flexibility in operation depending upon the materials used. An additional adjustment may be made by regulating valve 20 which is disposed in the supply conduit ot the compressed air, to compensate for varying conditions of atmospheric pressure and of the material being treated.

Inspection gates 35 and 36 are provided in my bin 1 whereby the operation may be observed, or admission may be gained to make necessary repairs or adjustments.

I provide a further refinement in my device by the disposal of a switch 40, which controls the motor of blower 3, under the control of a rope 7 connected to the feed gate 6. Thus when the feed gate operates downwardly by. the presence of material thereupon, the switch is closed in the system and effects its operation automatically. In

the absence of material upon the feed gate 6 the switch is open and the system is idle. Having described my invention, I claim: 1. In an apparatus of the class described, a compressed air chamber, a separating chamber adjoining the same, a pump and conduits for withdrawing air from said separating chamber and forcing air into said compressed air chamber, an air blast port providing communication between said chambers adapted to direct a stream of air from said compressed air chamber into said separating chamber in a substantially hori zontal direction, means for guiding material to be separated into said separating chamber and dropping it in a thin stream past said air blast port, whereby the stream is spread out according to the specific gravity of its components, a partition arranged to divide the expanded stream, with the top separating edge thereof at substantially the same level as said port, and means for guiding the parts of the stream so divided separately out of said separating chamber. 2. In an apparatus of the class described, a compressed air chamber, a separating chamber surrounding the same, an air pump and conduits for withdrawing air from said separating chamber and forcing air into said compressed air chamber, a plurality of communicating air blast ports between said chambers adapted to direct streams of air from said compressed air chamber into said separating chamber in a substantially horizontal direction, means for guiding the material to be separated into said separating chamber and dropping it in a thin stream past said air blast ports, whereby the stream is spread out according to the specific gravity of its components, a partition adjacent said air blast ports adapted to divide the expanded stream with the top separating edge thereof at substantially the same level as said ports, and means for guiding the parts of the stream so divided separately out of said separating chamber.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a cylindrical compressed air chamber, a separating chamber surrounding the same, a pump and conduits for withdrawing air from said separating chamber and forcing air into said compressed air chamber, a series of superposed circumferentially arranged communicating air blast ports between said chambers adapted to direct streams of air from said compressed air chamber into said separating chamber in a substantially horizontal direction, means for guiding the material to be separated into said separating chamber and dropping it in a thin cylindrical stream past said air blast ports whereby the stream is spread out according to the specific gravity of its components, a plurality of superposed vertically inclined partitions surrounding said ports, arranged to successively divide the expanded stream with the top separating edges of said partitions at substantially the same level as said ports, and means for guiding the parts of the stream so divided separately out of said separating chamber.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a compressed air chamber a separating chamber surrounding the same, an air pump and conduits for withdrawing air from said separating chamber and forcing air into said compressed air chamber, a plurality of communicating air blast ports between said chambers adapted to direct streams of air from said compressed air chamber into said separating chamber in a substantially horizontal direction, means for regulating the quantity of air passing through said air blast ports, means for guiding the material to be separated into said separating chamber and dropping it in a thin stream past said air blast ports, whereby the stream is spread out according to the specific gravity of its components, a partition adjacent said air blast ports adapted to divide the expanded stream with the top separating edge thereof at substantially the same level as said ports, and means for guiding the parts of the stream so divided separately out of said separating chamber.

FERDINAND C. MENK. 

